Rand Paul seeks to fast-track Anthony Faucis criminal referral undeterred by Senate recess

WASHINGTON — Sen.Rand Paul (R-Ky) is charging forward with his effort to prosecute Dr.

Anthony Fauci after the latter invoked the Fifth Amendment 111 times on pressing questions about his handling of the COVID-19 pandemic during a heated Senate hearing Wednesday.Paul has sought at least three prior criminal referrals to prosecute Fauci: two under former President Joe Biden and one renewal under President Trump.But the doctor’s shocking non-answers in the most recent hearing prompted him to fast-track a motion for contempt of Congress.“In the past, often, contempt messages go from committee to the floor, but I don’t think there’s any rule that says it has to,” the Senate Homeland Security Committee chairman said Thursday on Fox News’ “America’s Newsroom.”“I think it’s less likely to pass on the floor.

I think we can pass it out of committee,” he added.Almost every Democrat on the Homeland Security panel denounced Paul’s efforts to force Fauci’s testimony the day before.“And, from there, I plan on sending it directly with a legal brief supporting the arguments to the Department of Justice,” Paul continued.Contempt of Congress is a criminal misdemeanor that could earn the former White House COVID czar between one to 12 months in prison and a $100,000 fine upon conviction — but has to be approved by a committee, followed by the full chamber in which it originated.If the Senate is out of session, however, the upper chamber’s president — in this case Vice President JD Vance — can certify the contempt citation.

Majority Leader John Thune (R-SD) is expected to send his chamber into recess at the end of next week.David Schwartz, a New York-based criminal defense lawyer, told The Post that Fauci’s decision to make an opening statement before pleading the Fifth definitely constituted contempt in the stunning hearing Wednesday.“You can’t just sort of testify through your opening statement and then invoke the Fifth Amendment,�...